Carroll County Commissioners, May 16 meeting

KEY ACTION Commissioner Bob Wirkner charged that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has joined with other dog rescue groups to flood the commissioners office with calls and emails making demands regarding the county dog pound.

DISCUSSION “Who’s running the show? They have hounded us for the last two weeks over nothing. We can agree to disagree. What have they done for us? They have other counties, states, and even countries calling us now. We haven’t used the gas chamber but once in two years. They need to go somewhere else. We have answered them, it’s just not what they wanted to hear,” said Commissioner Tom Wheaton.

The latest of many complaints from these groups in recent years was fired up last week by the adoption of a purebred bulldog to another person when a member of a rescue group from Dover wanted to adopt the same dog.

“The SPCA is wanting to dismantle our gas chamber. I have told them we are looking at alternatives but that is unacceptable to the SPCA. They keep saying we haven’t responded to them. We have responded, but it wasn’t the response they wanted,” said Wirkner.

Wirkner explained that they want to keep the gas chamber as an alternative in an emergency situation. When a dog needs to be put down, the dog warden normally takes the dog to a veterinarian in the area. But if a dog is hit by a car and needs that service when a vet is not available, Wirkner said the chamber could be an option for taking care of the dog.

“We will run our pound. Especially in view of the threats,” said Wirkner.

On Monday, a dog rescue group from Dover made demands of commissioners and threatened to flood commissioners with emails and phone calls. They also threatened to contact legislators and other officials.

“We are in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code and have a good relationship with dog rescue group,” stated Commissioner Jeff Ohler.

Wheaton said commissioners have other duties to spend their time on instead of answering calls and emails from people who don’t live in this county or even this state.

“I hate to say it’s time to let sleeping dogs lie, but these people need to go someplace else,” Wheaton said.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Wheaton reported that the oil and gas lease contract calling for an additional $1,500 per acre bonus money for the Atwood Lake Lodge property will be extended for an additional 60 days. The contract language needs to be amended to state 484.316 acres instead of 491.27 acres.

• Will receive bids up to 9:30 a.m. June 6 for Moving Ohio Forward Demolition Grant Program No. 2.

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• Opened bids for the condensing unit and coil replacement project and the court house and for the Atwood Lodge Walking and Mountain Bike trail project. Decisions regarding the bids will be made next week.

• Approved a six year contract with Acquire Fire Protection to maintain fire extinguishers in county buildings at $1,451 per year.

• Received the Child Support Agency’s April report with 1,174 open and active cases.

• Agreed to use funding available for employee parking lot improvements instead of landscaping of a bank on county property upon the recommendation of head of maintenance, Ed Eick.